International students are allowed to stay in US

CHICO » Last week, international students, staff and faculty of Chico State and Butte College feared for the worst. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced that international students must take at least one in-person this the fall, or otherwise run the risk of being deported.

With instruction of both colleges switched to a mostly online learning modality, figuring out how to keep students in the area safely quickly became a consuming, daunting task.

This week, though, relief has swept over both campuses. On Tuesday, the Trump administration rescinded the rule after facing eight federal lawsuits and oppositions from hundreds of universities.

Cindy McKay, a coordinator and adviser in the Chico State International Education and Global Engagement office took to informing students the second she could.

“Finally we can give them some good news,” she said. “This gives them some breathing room.”

While staff and faculty of both schools looked for ways to enroll international students in at least one in-person class, the students themselves were also looking into ways to protect themselves.

Some considered flying back home, knowing they could not return. Some considered transferring to other colleges. Some even contemplated dropping out of school altogether because no easy solution could be found.

“I think a lot of students were just trying to make a move to feel like they have control over the situation,” McKay said.

She assured them, “Hang tight, let’s just see.”

With roomto breath, festivities lie ahead.

“We’re gonna have a big celebration,” McKay said.

Chico State international student Omar Ali, of Egypt,

knew the first person he wanted to share the news with was his mom.

“I feel so relieved,” he said.

He has been living in the U.S. for six years. Of all the cities he’s lived in, none have compared to Chico.

All others “never felt like home.”

Only Chico has.

“I’ve never felt such support,” he said. “This is my other family, here in Chico.”

He couldn’t bear the thought of leaving.

“It’s, like, part

of me,” he said.

When he first heard the news that hemay have to fly back to Egypt, he thought it was fake. It wasn’t until his American friends checked in on him that he realized he was in denial.

“Honestly, I didn’t believe it,” he said. “It started really shocking me.”

Most of all, he thought about his dad and the way he has supported his study abroad journey from the moment he stepped foot on American soil.

“My dad spent half of his fortune on me. He said, ‘Son, you are my investment.’ For me to have leave after he spent all this money is just unfair,” he said. “I would have been devastated.”

Brad Zuniga, dean of Student Services at Butte College, was in a meeting discussing potential solutions to the initial quandary. It was one of many, many meetings that has taken place over the last week and a half.

He told the college’s vice president that he certainly doesn’t want to rely on the lawsuits alone to help international students because it could take weeks ormonths for an outcome to emerge.

Yet, as soon as the meeting ended, he saw notification after notification of glad tidings on his phone.

“We spent the last week or so stressing and scrambling,” he said. “It’s frustrating that our studentshad to spend so long stressing and in fear”

Butte College still has close eyes on the situation, but is reassured overall.

“We are excited. This definitely makes us feel less anxious,” Zuniga said.

Between the two schools, there will be approximately 150 international students who will choose to live in Butte County this fall to continue their studies.